Hemp vs. Marijuana

So you grow weed?” is a question that I sometimes get asked when explaining that Quadratum is an industrial hemp company. I understand the confusion. Weed, cannabis, marijuana, and hemp are all terms used to describe the same plant! So marijuana and hemp are the same!? Not quite.

The major difference between hemp and marijuana is what you can do with each plant. You may have learned about hemp, when you saw hemp seeds in the grocery store. Hemp seeds are close to the perfect ratio of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids for human health and contains 75% more protein than chia or flax seeds. It’s another complete protein super food! But hemp can be used in far more ways than just for food. Hemp construction, hemp plastics, hemp fuel, hemp fabric, and hemp paper are all superior to the products they replace. Not only are they more environmentally friendly by using fewer chemicals and sequestering carbon, but they also outperform their non-hemp counterparts by being cheaper and stronger!

Although both hemp and marijuana are technically Cannabis sativa, hemp cannot be smoked to get high like marijuana can. THC is the cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana; however, by law, only trace amounts of THC can be present in industrial hemp. The most abundant cannabinoid in industrial hemp is called CBD. This compound is responsible for the majority of the health effects of medical cannabis, and it is completely non-psychoactive, which is why CBD oil has become a popular choice for treating a wide variety of health conditions.

Although both hemp and marijuana are technically Cannabis sativa, hemp cannot be smoked to get high like marijuana can. THC is the cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana; however, by law, only trace amounts of THC can be present in industrial hemp. The most abundant cannabinoid in industrial hemp is called CBD. This compound is responsible for the majority of the health effects of medical cannabis, and it is completely non-psychoactive, which is why CBD oil has become a popular choice for treating a wide variety of health conditions.